Friends and first-home buyers Leah de Jacobi du Vallon and Sam Forssman have bought neighbouring units in Norlane. Picture: Glenn Ferguson
Two Geelong friends are looking forward to toasting their good fortune over the fence after buying their first homes next door to each other.
Affordable northern suburb Norlane proved the perfect entry point for Sam Forssman and Leah de Jacobi du Vallon to achieve the Great Australian Dream.
The pair had been househunting separately and realised after cross checking their appointment lists they were both looking at a new unit complex on the same day.
RELATED:
New home site launched for Geelong’s Big Shed site
Terrific transformation of Ocean Grove beauty
Evictions ban extended to 2021
Ms de Jacobi du Vallon said while they were both seeking different properties, the modern two-bedrooms units in Carnation Court ticked both their boxes.
After taking advantage of the government’s $20,000 first-home buyer grant for purchasing a new build in a regional area, they are set to move in later this month.
“We were looking at different properties around the same price range,” she said.
Leah de Jacobi du Vallon and Sam Forssman are looking forward to moving in next to each other later this month. Picture: Glenn Ferguson
“We both had this one on our list and we happened to like them, which worked out really well.
“It’s the best of both worlds because we get to live next door to each other but get to have our own properties.”
Ms Forssman said at one stage the pair had considered buying a house together to make it more affordable but she was able to access the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme.
It supports eligible first-home buyers to purchase with as little as a 5 per cent deposit.
This unit in the Carnation Court, Norlane complex, is still on the market for $365,000-$395,000.
Ms Forssman said she grew up in Grovedale and had hoped to stay on that side of Geelong but was impressed with the quality and location of the four-unit complex in Norlane.
“I work out that side of town and that pocket is really nice,” she said.
Harcourts, North Geelong agent Jasmine Jurkovic said for a price tag around $370,000, the woman had secured quality units in an area that was seeing a lot new development.
The quality of the new build appealed to the first-home buyers.
All the landscaping it already done at the units.
“That is a bit of shift, people are now prepared to spend a little bit more in those areas,” Ms Jurkovic said.
“The price has obviously gone up, but it’s under $400,000 so for a first-home buyer to be able to tap into the grants the government is handing out, they getting themselves something that is quality and in their budget.”
The post When good friends and first-home buyers become neighbours appeared first on realestate.com.au.